Plastic hose, riser and clamping system

ABSTRACT

A composite assembly including as essential elements a plastic material conduit, a novel riser assembly and a spray nozzle is provided. The conduit is provided with a hollow stem. The novel riser assembly includes a finite length of plastic tubing having one outwardly flared end. That end is adapted to be secured to, and envelope, the hollow stem on the conduit. The other end of the plastic tubing is inwardly tapered. That end is adapted to be secured to, and envelope, a sprinkler head stem. A self-threading hollow collar hose clamp is associated with each end of the plastic tubing, each hose clamp being tapered or flared to conform to the taper or flare at the respective end of the tube. The outer periphery of the hose clamp is provided with hand grip means, while the inward tapered or flared interior periphery of each hose clamp is provided with a thread includng helically disposed ridges separated by flat areas.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,776,463

Dyck Dec. 4, 1973 [54] PLASTIC HOSE, RISER AND CLAMPING SYSTEM PrimaryExaminerRichard A. Schacher 1 [75] Inventor: Gerhard J. Dyck, Saskatoon,Attorney paul et Canada ABSTRACT [73] Asslgnee' g f h A compositeassembly including as essential elements as a c swan ana a a plasticmaterial conduit, a novel riser assembly and a [22] Filed: July 12, 1972spray nozzle is provided. The conduit is provided with Appl. No.:270,995

Foreign Application Priority Data July 23, 1971 Canada 118952 ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS l I l 96 1 Cone 285/302 X 11/1970 Houle285/302 X a hollow stem. The novel n'ser assembly includes a finitelength of plastic tubing having one outwardly flared end. That end isadaptedto be secured to, and envelope, the hollow stem on the conduit.The other end of the plastic tubing is inwardly tapered. That end isadapted to be secured to, and envelope, a sprinkler head stem. Aself-threading hollow collar hose clamp is associated with each end ofthe plastic tubing, each hose clamp being tapered or flared to conformto the taper or flare at the respective end of the tube. The outerperiphery of the hose clamp is provided with hand grip means, while theinward tapered or flared interior periphery of each hose clamp isprovided with a thread includng helically disposed ridges separated byflat areas.

15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBEE SHEET 1 or a PATENTED DEC 4I975 SHEET 2 [IF 3 PATENTED DEC 4 I975 SHEET 3 BF 3 76 5 250 iii PLASTICHOSE, RISER AND CLAMPING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a plastic conduit riser assembly and certain componentsthereof. More particularly, it relates to components for joining aplastic riser pipe onto a particular type of plastic conduit, namely,one which is specially adapted for use in underground sprinkler systems.In addition to providing means to secure the riser pipe to the plasticconduit, the present invention also provides structural elements tosecure a special form of sprinkler to the riser pipe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Sprinkler systems are presently availablewhich include a plurality of plastic pipes or conduits for conveying thewater and riser pipes connected to Tees on the plastic conduit and towhich are attached the sprinkler heads. Difficulty is experienced inconstructing such systems, since, in the past, the Tee connections hadto be secured to the end finite length section of the plastic conduits,then the riser pipe had to be secured to the Tee and finally thesprinkler head or nozzle had to be secured to the upper end of theriser. It is readily seen that a considerable amount of thread forming,then securement, is necessary. If securement is not effected by threadedattachment, fusing or other securement in situ is necessary.

The present applicant has already proposed a solution to the problem ofa conveniently secured, simple effective sprinkler head, and this isdisclosed and claimed in Canadian Patent No. 773,960. In addition,applicant has already proposed a solution to the problem of formationand assembly of the Tees in his pending US. Pat. Application Ser. No.882,203 filed Dec. 4, I969, directed to saddle-type tee connectors.

AIMS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION By the present invention, the applicantnow proposes to minimize the problems involved in assembling the entirecomposite plastic assembly of conduit, riser and sprinkler head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BROAD STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Accordingly,by a broad aspect of this invention, an assembly is provided includingthe following elements: Firstly, there is a conduit having a hollow stemassociated therewith. Secondly, there is a finite length of plastictubing. One end of the tubing'is outwardly flared and that end isadapted to be secured to, and envelope, the hollow stem. The other endof the tubing is inwardly tapered and that end of the tube is adapted tobe secured to, and envelope, a sprinkler head stem. Finally, aself-threading hollow collar hose clamp is provided to be associatedwith each end of the tube. Each hose clamp is inwardly tapered or flaredto conform to the taper or flare at the respective end of the tube. Theouter periphery of each of the hose clamps is provided with hand gripmeans. The tapered or flared interior periphery of each of the hoseclamps is provided with a thread, such thread including helicallydisposed ridges separated by flat areas.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The hose clamps provided in thecombination of this invention are designed so as to compress portions ofthe plastic tubing as the hose clamp is being rotated to alockingposition, but this compressing does not distort the plastic tubing outof round. The plastic tubing may be formed e.g. of polyethylene orpolypropylene. The hose clamps are strong and easy to manufacture from asuitable hard plastics material, e.g., nylon or ABS. The hose clamps maybe securely tightened by hand torque and no other tools are necessary.The hose clamp includes, as an essential feature thereof, the provisionof tapered self-threading thread which can selfthread and lock onto thesemi-rigid plastic tubing. The hose clamp may be of any suitable size,since it can be used on any suitably sized semi-rigid tubing.

The thread is not a full thread so as not to damage the plastic tubingwhich is thin walled, e.g. thin wall polyethylene tubing. The thread isspecially designed to bite into the tubing only deep enough to force ataper onto the pipe and thereby to compress the pipe. The flat areabetween the helically threaded areas serves as a compression area. Sincethe thread is not a full V thread, the hose clamp does not have to bescrewed onto the plastic tubing as far as the full V? thread. The threadused may be a single lead thread. However, a multiple start, male threadmay also be used since it has the advantage of less torque motion sincethe thread lead is greater.

Any type of hollow stem can be secured to the conduit or plastic pipe,such as, for example, conventional Tees and conventional saddles.However, the hollow stem associated with the conduit or plastic tube ispreferably the saddle-type tee connector of the aboveidentified patentapplication, including an inner component securable to the inside of theconduit or plastic tube and having a hollow post projecting through ahole in the conduit or plastic tubing. An outer component includes ahollow stem to engage the hollow post of the inner component and to besecured thereto by means within the confines of the hollow stem. Thissecurement provides a substantially water-tight seal at the hole in theconduit.

The hollow stem can alternatively be one of a plurality of integral Teeconnectors, as disclosed and claimed in US. Pat. Application Ser. No.864,613 filed Oct. 8, 1969. Finally, the hollow stem can be part of aconventionally provided Tee or elbow connection.

Any type of sprinkler head may be secured to the riser assembly ofaspects of this invention. Thus, the sprinkler head may be any of theconventional socalled pop-up sprinkler heads. Preferably, however, it isa specially designed novel pop-up sprinkler head including an externallythreaded sleeve so that the height of the sleeve atop the riser can beadjusted. Freely slidably mounted within the sleeve is a casing whoseupward movement is limited by abutting surfaces, and whose downwardmovement is limited by being flush with the top of the sleeve. Atop thecasing is a sprinkler deflector head, with apertures below the head todirect water at the head, to be deflected away following a predeterminedpattern. Preferably, the head is integral with the casing and thedeflection pattern is governed by a vertically bisected area below thehead.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In theaccompany drawings,

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of one aspect ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal section along the line IIIIII of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the sprinkler head shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal, enlarged cross-section along the line VV ofFIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal, enlarged cross-section along the line VIVI ofFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 1

The elements of the present inventive assembly 10 include a riser pipe20, a lower hose clamp 30 and an upper hose clamp 40. Associated withthe assembly 10 is a saddle-type tee connector 50 to provide a teeconnection having a hollow stem 145 to which the bottom of the riserpipe is secured. Also associated with the assembly 10 is a sprinklerassembly 60.

The riser pipe 20, formed e.g. of polyethylene, includes an outwardflare 21 at the lower area, and an inward taper 22 at the upper area.The riser pipe 20 is initially unthreaded, but becomes threaded as thehose clamps 30, 40 are secured thereto.

The lower hose clamp is provided with an inwardly tapered insideperipheral surface 31 (the inward taper being inward" when viewed fromthe outer face 32 to the inner face 33). The inner peripheral surface 31is provided with a triple helically arranged thread 34 with a flatcompression area 35 spaced between. The outer peripheral surface 36 isprovided with a plurality of hand-gripping ears 37.

The upper hose clamp 40 is similar to the lower hose clamp 30 with theexception that the inside peripheral surface 41 is outwardly flared (theoutward flare being outward" when viewed from the outer face 42 to theinner face 43). The inner peripheral surface 41 is likewise providedwith a triple helically arranged thread 34 with a flat compression area35 spaced between. The outer peripheral surface 46 is provided with aplurality of gripping projections 47.

The saddle-type tee connector 50 includes an internal component 51 whichis disposed within the tube or conduit and an outer saddle 52 disposedon the outside of the tube 70 and is secured thereto by means of screws53. The outer saddle 52 includes an upper hollow connecting stem 54which is adapted to be enclosed by the lower area 21 of the riser pipe20.

In the exploded view, as shown in FIG. 1, the tube 70 has attachedthereto a saddle-type tee fitting 50 including an internal component 51,which is disposed in the interior of the tube 70 and which alsoprotrudes through an aperture 113 in the circumferential side wall ofthe tube 70, and an outer saddle 52 which sits on the circumferentialexterior wall of the tube 70 and mates with the internal component 51.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SADDLE-TYPE TEE FITTING gral therewith. Theupper surface of the generally rectangular base is of convex form, andit includes sealing flanges 122 extending around the perimeter, orperipheral edges thereof, spaced slightly inwardly from thelongitudinally extending side edges 126, 127 and transversely extendingleading and trailing edges 132, 133. Thus, there is provided a pair oflongitudinally extending, upper, convex surfaces terminating inlongitudinally extending side edges 126, 127.

The boat-shaped pedestal or hollow post 121 is provided with afluid-conducting aperture 130 disposed along the central, vertical axisthereof, flanked by a pair of fastening apertures 131 extending axiallyparallel to fluid-conducting aperture 130.

The construction of the outer saddle 52 is also more completelydescribed in the above-identified US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 882,203.The structure may, however, briefly be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 herein. Itis seen that the outer saddle 52 includes a generally rectangular base150 provided with a convex face 142 forming the longitudinally extendinglower surface 141. The longitudinally extending lower surface 141terminates at a pair of longitudinally extending side edges 143 and 144which are adapted to form the limit of the contact between the outersaddle 52 and the tube 70.

The outer saddle 52 is provided with a substantiallycylindrically-shaped upstanding male connecting stem 54. The generallyrectangular base 140 is provided with a substantially boat-shapedinternal well 149 disposed along the central longitudinal axis thereof.The well 149 is connected to a substantially cylindrical second well147, the cylindrical second well terminating in a pair of ledges 148.Disposed within the confines of the cylindrical second well 147 is apair of axially extending, generally cylindrical lugs 151, each providedwith an axial screw hole. The axially extending, generally cylindricallugs 151 are adapted to extend downwardly only as far as the ledges 148.Wells 147 and 149 provide the fluid-conducting aperture between theinterior of tube 70 and riser pipe 20.

The manner in which the saddle-type tee fitting, namely internalcomponent 51 and outer saddle 52, is secured to the tube 70 forproviding the riser 20 coupled thereto will now be described. It is seenthat the internal component 51 is disposed with its pedestal 121extending through the aperture 113 in the side wall of the tube 70. Theaperture 113 is preferably of exactly the same shape as thecross-section of the pedestal 121. In this position, the convex face 125of the upper surface of the generally rectangular base 120 is adapted tobe in engagement with the concave inner surface 136 of the tube 70. Thesealing flange 122 is in more direct contact with the convex innersurface 136 of the tube 70 to provide more positive fluid-tight sealingengagement between the generally rectangular base 120 and the tube 70.

The outer saddle 52 is disposed over the internal component 51 with thewell 149 thereof mating with the pedestal 121 of the internal component51. It is, therefore, preferred that the well 149 have substantially thesame cross-sectional shape as the crosssection of the pedestal 121, i.e.be similar but slightly smaller. In this way, there is positivefrictional engagement between the sealing surface 134 of the pedestal121, and the sealing surface of the well 149. While applicant has shownthese surfaces to be substantially smooth with sealing provided by aslightly larger size of the pedestal 121 when compared to the well 149,other means of providing more positive sealing engagement between thesealing surface 134 of pedestal 121 and the sealing surface 135 of well149 may be provided. Such enhanced sealing means as ribs, projections,etc. may be used. These are not shown since it is believed that suchenhanced sealing engagement means would be well known to those skilledin the art.

In order more positively to couple the outer saddle 52 to the internalcomponent 51, a pair of securement screws 53 is disposed through theapertures in the cylindrical lugs 151 of the outer saddle 52, the screws53 being in self-tapping engagement with the aperture 131 in thepedestal 121 of the internal component 51. The riser is coupled to thesaddle-type tee connector 50 by being disposed over the male connectingstem 54 and then being secured thereto in a manner to be describedhereinafter.

The positioning of the securement screws 53 within the confines of theriser 20 is of inherent advantage since any leakage of fluid through theconnecting apertures 131, 151 would inherently be led to the riser 20and hence any undesirable effect of such leakage would be cancelled.Furthermore, it is noted that the internal component 51 includes apedestal 121 which extends through a similarly shaped aperture 113 inthe side of the tube 70, thereby minimizing any twisting of the tube 70when the outer saddle 52 is attached to the internal component 51, ifthere should be any application of torsional forces to the riser 20attached thereto. This also is of inherent advantage.

The nozzle 60 includes a sleeve 61 of substantially cylindricalcross-section including a nozzle casing 62 of substantially hexagonalcross-section and a superposed integral spray head 63. The sleeve 61 isprovided with external threads 64 and gripping rings 65 by means ofwhich the nozzle 60 is retained within and disposed at a preset levelwithin the riser pipe 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF POP-UP SPRINKLER HEAD FIGS. 2 6 inclusiveillustrate more clearly the construction of a so-called pop-up sprinklerhead which may be used in the combination of the present invention. Thenozzle 60 includes a valve head 63 integral with the hexagonal (incross-section) casing 62, which is slidably mounted in sleeve 61. Thevalve head 63 includes a valve stem 256 terminating in a deflection head257 having a slightly frusto-conical bottom surface 258. A centralpartition 254 is providedwhich divides the valve stem 256 in half andextends radially to provide a pair of opposing ears 255. The ears 255are each provided with an upwardly sloping water directing channel 253extending from the valve stem 256 to the lateral edge 259 of the car255.

The undersurface of the deflection head 257 includes an enlargedcylindrical portion 260 having two semiannular water deflection chambers261 formed around the stem 256, the chambers being separated bypartition 254.

The base 262 of the valve stem 256 is integral with a flat base 263.Base 263 is inset by a pair of semicircular depressions 264, separatedby partition 254, each of depressions 264 being provided with aplurality of water flow passages 265. Below the depressions 264 withinthe casing 62 is a generally frusto-conical sluice 266 to conduct thewater from the interior 267 of the casing 62 to the flow passages 265.

Casing 62 is also provided with a lower annular flange 268 which isdesigned to abut internal shoulder 269 in the sleeve 61 to prevent thecasing 62 from being urged completely out of the sleeve 61. A metalcollect 270 is inserted into the interior 267 of the casing 62 toprovide both a passageway for water to pass from the interior 290 ofsleeve 61 to the interior 267 of casing 62, and a weight to maintain thecasing 62 in its lowermost position when at rest. The hexagonal (incross-section) casing 62 meets the circular (in crosssection) base 263by means of an inwardly flared portion 271.

The central aperture 291 in sleeve 61 within which hexagonal (incross-section) casing 62 slides is of circular cross-section, but it isprovided with internal scalloped edges (not shown) and leakage of waterthrough aperture 291 is minimized by cooperation between the uppersurface of flage 268 and internal shoulder 269. The upper surface 292 ofsleeve 61 is countersunk at countersink 293 to accommodate deflectionhead 257 so that, at rest, both upper surfaces are flush. The centralaperture 291 is of large enough diameter to accommodate ears 255.

The means for fastening the casing 62 to the pipe riser 20 is alsoshown. The hexagon (in cross-section) casing 62 is contained inside thethreaded sleeve 61 as described ,above, so that it may slip freely upand down within the sleeve 61, its upper limit being set by cooperationbetween annular flange 268 and internal shoulder 269, and its lowerlimit being set by cooperation between deflection head 257 andcountersink 293. Sleeve 61 includes a hexagonal (in cross-section) head294 to assist in threading it into riser 20 which is attached, as

described hereinabove, to the water line or tube 70.

The threaded sleeve 61 serves two functions, namely, assuring a freerising and falling of the sprinkler casing 62, and allowing the heightof the casing 62 to be adjusted.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSEMBLY To secure the assembly, the lower hose clamp 30is slipped over the upper end 22 of the riser pipe 20, the lower end 21is placed around the hollow post 54 and the lower hose clamp 20 turnedby hand until it is firmly secured with the tapered portion compressingagainst the post 54. I

The upper hose clamp 40 is slipped over the upper end 22 of the riserpipe 20 and the nozzle 60 threaded down the riser pipe 20 to the desiredlevel. Then the upper hose clamp 40 is threaded by hand downwardly onthe pipe riser 20 until the tapered portion compresses the end of theriser 22 against the stem 61.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easilyascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changesand modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages andconditions. Consequently, such changes and modifications are properly,equitably, and intended to be, within the full range of equivalence ofthe following claims.

I claim:

1. A riser clamping assembly comprising: a finite length of plastictubing having two ends thereof, one said end being outwardly flared andbeing adapted to be secured to, and envelope, a first designated hollowmember, the other end being inwardly tapered, and being adapted to besecured to, and envelope, a second designated hollow member; aself-threading hollow collar hose clamp associated with said oneoutwardly flared end, said hose clamp being inwardly flared tocorrespond with the outward flare of said one end, the outer peripheryof said hose clamp being provided with hand grip means, the innerperiphery of said inward flare being provided with threads includinghelically disposed ridges separated by flat areas; and a selfthreadinghollow collar hose clamp associated with said other inwardly taperedend, said hose clamp being inwardly tapered to correspond with theinward taper of said other end, the outer periphery of said hose clampbeing provided with hand grip means, the inner periphery of said inwardtaper being provided with threads including helically disposed ridgesseparated by flat areas.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hose clamps are each providedwith a shallow, single or multiple, female thread including three raisedhelices.

3. In combination: a conduit having a hollow stem associated therewith;a sprinkler head including a stem; and a riser clamping assembly, saidassembly comprising: a finite length of plastic tubing, having two endsthereof, one said end being outwardly flared and being adapted to besecured to, and envelope, said hollow stem, the other said end beinginwardly tapered and being adapted to be secured to, and envelope, saidsprinkler head; a self-threading hollow collar hose clamp associatedwith said one outwardly flared end, said hose clamp being inwardlyflared to correspond with the outward flare of said one end, the outerperiphery of said hose clamp being provided with hand grip means, theinner periphery of said inward flare being provided with threadsincluding helically disposed ridges separated by flat areas; and aselfthreading hollow collar hose clamp associated with said otherinwardly tapered end, said hose clamp being inwardly tapered tocorrespond with the inward taper of said other end, the outer peripheryof said hose clamp being provided with hand grip means, the innerperiphery of said inward taper being provided with threads includinghelically disposed ridges separated by flat areas.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said conduit having a hollow stemis a Tee, comprising: an internal component including a base sealinglyengageable with the interior wall of the conduit and including a postprojecting through an aperture in the wall of the conduit; and anexternal saddle connected thereto including a base sealingly engageablewith the exterior wall of the conduit, a well surrounding the projectingpost, and a hollow stem projecting upwardly therefrom.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said outer saddle is connected tosaid internal component by screws passing within the confines of saidhollow stem.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said sprinkler head is a pop-upnozzle including a sleeve securable to said plastic tubing and a casingslidable within said sleeve.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said sleeve is provided withexternal threads; wherein said casing is slidable between an upper limitwhere an external annular flange on said casing sealingly abuts aninternal peripheral ledge on said sleeve, and a lower limit where saidsprinkler head is flush with the upper surface of said sleeve in acountersunk cavity; and wherein said sleeve is provided with waterpassages to direct the water to be deflected off the bottom surface ofthe sprinkler head.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said sprinkler head is integralwith said casing; and wherein said sprinkler head includes a pair ofdividing, lateral ears.

9. The combination of claim 4 wherein the hose clamps are each providedwith a shallow, single or multiple, female thread including three raisedhelices.

10. The combination of claim 3 wherein said sprinkler head is a pop-upnozzle including a sleeve securable to said plastic tubing and a casingslidable within said sleeve.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the hose clamps are eachprovided with a shallow, single or multiple, female thread includingthree raised helices.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein said sleeve is provided withexternal threads; wherein said casing is slidable between an upper limitwhere an external annular flange on said casing sealingly abuts aninternal peripheral ledge on said sleeve, and a lower limit where saidsprinkler head is flush with the upper surface of said sleeve in acountersunk cavity; and wherein said sleeve is provided with waterpassages to direct the water to be deflected off the bottom surface ofthe sprinkler head.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the hose clamps are eachprovided with a shallow, single or multiple, female thread includingthree raised helices.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said sprinkler head is integralwith the casing; and wherein said sprinkler head includes a pair ofdividing, lateral ears.

15. The combination of claim 3 wherein the hose clamps are each providedwith a shallow, single or multiple, female thread including three raisedhelices.

1. A riser clamping assembly comprising: a finite length of plastictubing having two ends thereof, one said end being outwardly flared andbeing adapted to be secured to, and envelope, a first designated hollowmember, the other end being inwardly tapered, and being adapted to besecured to, and envelope, a second designated hollow member; aself-threading hollow collar hose clamp associated with said oneoutwardly flared end, said hose clamp being inwardly flared tocorrespond with the outward flare of said one end, the outer peripheryof said hose clamp being provided with hand grip means, the innerperiphery of said inward flare being provided with threads includinghelically disposed ridges separated by flat areas; and a self-threadinghollow collar hose clamp associated with said other inwardly taperedend, said hose clamp being inwardly tapered to correspond with theinward taper of said other end, the outer periphery of said hose clampbeing provided with hand grip means, the inner periphery of said inwardtaper being provided with threads including helically disposed ridgesseparated by flat areas.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hoseclamps are each provided with a shallow, single or multiple, femalethread including three raised helices.
 3. In combination: a conduithaving a hollow stem associated therewith; a sprinkler head including astem; and a riser clamping assembly, said assembly comprising: a finitelength of plastic tubing, having two ends thereof, one said end beingoutwardly flared and being adapted to be secured to, and envelope, saidhollow stem, the other said end being inwardly tapered and being adaptedto be secured to, and envelope, said sprinkler head; a self-threadinghollow collar hose clamp associated with said one outwardly flared end,said hose clamp being inwardly flared to correspond with the outwardflare of said one end, the outer periphery of said hose clamp beingprovided with hand grip means, the inner periphery of said inward flarebeing provided with threads including helically disposed ridgesseparated by flat areas; and a self-threading hollow collar hose clampassociated with said other inwardly tapered end, said hose clamp beinginwardly tapered to correspond with the inward taper of said other end,the outer periphery of said hose clamp being provided with hand gripmeans, the inner periphery of said inward taper being provided withthreads including helically disposed ridges separated by flat areas. 4.The combination of claim 3 wherein said conduit having a hollow stem isa ''''Tee'''', comprising: an internal component including a basesealingly engageable with the interior wall of the conduit and includinga post projecting through an aperture in the wall of the conduit; and anexternal saddle connected thereto including a base sealingly engageablewith the exterior wall of the conduit, a well surrounding the projectingpost, and a hollow stem projecting upwardly therefrom.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein said outer saddle is connected to saidinternal component by screws passing within the confines of said hollowstem.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said sprinkler head is apop-up nozzle including a sleeve securable to said plastic tubing and acasing slidable within said sleeve.
 7. The combination of claim 6wherein said sleeve is provided with external threads; wherein saidcasing is slidable between an upper limit where an external annularflange on said casing sealingly abuts an internal peripheral ledge onsaid sleeve, and a lower limit where said sprinkler head is flush withthe upper surface of said sleeve in a countersunk cavity; and whereinsaid sleeve is provided with water passages to direct the water to bedeflected off the bottom surface of the sprinkler head.
 8. Thecombination of claim 7 wherein said sprinkler head is integral with saidcasing; and wherein said sprinkler head includes a pair of dividing,lateral ears.
 9. The combination of claim 4 wherein the hose clamps areeach provided with a shallow, single or multiple, female threadincluding three raised helices.
 10. The combination of claim 3 whereinsaid sprinkler head is a pop-up nozzle including a sleeve securable tosaid plastic tubing and a casing slidable within said sleeve.
 11. Thecombination of claim 10 wherein the hose clamps are each provided with ashallow, single or multiple, female thread including three raisedhelices.
 12. The combination of claim 10 wherein said sleeve is providedwith external threads; wherein said casing is slidable between an upperlimit where an external annular flange on said casing sealingly abuts aninternal peripheral ledge on said sleeve, and a lower limit where saidsprinkler head is flush with the upper surface of said sleeve in acountersunk cavity; and wherein said sleeve is provided with waterpassages to direct the water to be deflected off the bottom surface ofthe sprinkler head.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the hoseclamps are each provided with a shallow, single or multiple, femalethread including three raised helices.
 14. The combination of claim 12wherein said sprinkler head is integral with the casing; and whereinsaid sprinkler head includes a pair of dividing, lateral ears.
 15. Thecombination of claim 3 wherein the hose clamps are each provided with ashallow, single or multiple, female thread including three raisedhelices.